Racer Santiago Villa, burned in a refueling accident at Daytona International Speedway last month, says he is preparing to leave the hospital, but has a long road to recovery ahead of him. “I’m good,” Villa said by cell phone from his room at the Orlando Regional Medical Center today. “They’ve done four surgeries on me, and I think the last one was the last one. If things go well, by the end of this week or the beginning of next week, I will be leaving the hospital. “I’ll still have to come every day. I’m still going to be in a home nearby to stay in contact with the doctors. They have to keep an eye on the skin, change the dressings and stuff. The doctors and I are waiting for all the burns to be completely closed, with no bleeding. When the skin is closed, that’s when I’ll be able to go home.” Villa suffered second- and third-degree burns over 30 percent of his body when a quick-fill refueling system malfunctioned. Villa, 32, of Bogota, Columbia, was racing in the Solo class of the ASRA Team Challenge when he pitted on about lap 17 for fuel. “I only remember that when I came in for fuel, and when they took the fast fuel tank out, it just flowed gas everywhere,” Villa said. “In a second, I was covered with fuel, and then I was on fire, the bike was on fire, there was fire everywhere. I rolled around on the ground to try to put it out, but nothing was happening. I just thank God that someone else was there to help put it out and save my life.” Villa remembers that someone in the pits, who he said was Dan McGreevy, was “desperate” to help extinguish the flames. “He was the first one there trying to put out the fire, he was yelling at people, trying to put the fire out with his own body,” Villa said. “He was trying to save my life and I think he did. He was a real hero.” Cards and letters may be sent to: Patient Santiago Villa Venegas Orlando Regional Medical Center 1414 Kuhl Ave Orlando, FL 32806 Phone (407) 841-5111 www.orhs.org